Bishop and Colbourne lead charge for Royals in 8-2 victory over Jets in playoff opener

Josh White of the Stephenville Jets wins a faceoff against the Corner Brook Royals during the opening game of a best-of-five West Coast Senior Hockey League semifinal series Friday night at the Corner Brook Civic Centre. The Royals won 8-2. - Dave Kearsey

Some guys just have a knack for scoring goals.

Jeremy Bishop had three goals and two assists and Darren Colbourne had two goals and an assist to lead the Corner Brook Royals to an 8-2 victory over the Stephenville Jets Friday night at the Corner Brook Civic Centre.

Three goals just 25 seconds apart midway through the second period turn the tide in the opening game of a West Coast Senior Hockey League semifinal series between the hometown Corner Brook Royals and the Stephenville Jets.

Bishop got the Royals on the scoresheet at 11:59 of the second period with the Royals trailing 2-0 after the Jets won the opening period with goals by Tim Caines and Nolan Pearson giving the visiting team a 2-0 advantage after 20 minutes.

Bishop got his second goal, breaking in all alone from the Jets blueline and sifting a backhander through the five-hole of Jets puckstopper Billy Clarke, just 14 seconds after he brought the hometown crowd to their feet with the first of eight on the night.

Colbourne banged home a rebound from a Bishop snapshot at 12:24 to give the Royals three unanswered goals in 25 seconds and a lead they would protect the rest of the way.

Adam Loveless, with his first goal as a Royal, had one of five unanswered goals in the third period and his teammates were quick to grab the puck for the rangy defenceman known for his play in his own end of the rink moreso than on the offensive side of the puck.

Tyler Hunt and Ryan Meade also scored for the Royals in the third period.

The two teams will be back at it Saturday night with Game 2 scheduled for 8 p.m. at the Stephenville Dome.

The other league semifinal, featuring the second-place Deer Lake Red Wings and third-place Port aux Basques Mariners, will get underway Saturday night in Port aux Basques.

The Red Wings were scheduled to host Game 1 Friday night at the Hodder, but the game got cancelled because there is an issue with the ice plant at the Hodder and it’s not expected to be fixed until Wednesday.